THE MASTERMIND OF HOGWARTS

Lockhart had been running around tirelessly for this, but it had all been worth it.

On the early morning of December 4, 1987, Gilderoy Lockhart finally returned to the castle, knocking eagerly on the great doors of Slytherin Castle.

After being let inside, he almost ran up to where Moriarty was seated, beaming with excitement.

"Success, young master!" Lockhart declared, practically bouncing on his feet. "It worked! It's working even better than I imagined!"

Moriarty, calmly sipping his morning tea, set his cup down and regarded the man with an arched brow. "I take it that means business is good?"

Lockhart grinned. "Better than good! I bought two shops—one in Diagon Alley, the other in Hogsmeade Village—and I can barely keep up with demand! Wizards are losing their minds over Bird-Snake Egg Yolk Shampoo! They're all shocked that I, Gilderoy Lockhart, a famed writer, am also a businessman of such taste and talent!"

He went on, clearly delighted with himself. The moment the first wizard used the shampoo and found their dull, lifeless hair transformed into something silky and radiant, the floodgates opened.

Word of mouth spread like Fiendfyre.

At first, people were merely curious—Why is a best-selling author selling hair products?

Then, witches who wanted shinier, softer hair began buying bottles by the dozen. Some even carried home entire cases of the shampoo, as if hoarding it for a lifetime.

Lucius Malfoy, the man who had tried to undermine Moriarty's Mutual Aid Foundation, eventually caught wind of it. But by then, it was already too late.

Lockhart's shops were flourishing. While the rest of the pure-blood families scrambled to react, they found themselves powerless.

With the Potter family long gone, no other pure-blood family had the heritage, skill, or even the inclination to enter the shampoo business. They could only watch, helpless, as Lockhart's empire took root.

Lockhart, of course, was ecstatic. This was just the beginning.

Brimming with excitement, he dashed back to Slytherin Castle and burst into Moriarty's study, panting.

"Young master, I've done it!" Lockhart announced. "The wizarding world is obsessed with my shampoo! This is a milestone, an empire in the making! Now tell me, what's next? What's our grand plan?"

Moriarty, seated at his desk, merely nodded, his expression composed as he listened.

Inside, however, his mind raced. So, the journey to Hogwarts finally begins.

For all these years, he had been preparing for this very moment. Since arriving in this world, he had devoted himself to perfecting his magic, studying texts even beyond Hogwarts curriculum. But even so, the thought of finally stepping foot inside Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry stirred a sense of excitement in him.

"Ahem, of course!" Lockhart coughed. "The young master attending Hogwarts will be the greatest honor the school has ever had!"

At that moment, Professor Slughorn arrived to see Moriarty off. Though not a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin, Slughorn had always looked upon Moriarty with a special fondness.

Moriarty acknowledged him with a nod. It was time.

Before leaving, he decided to take stock of what he had gained so far.

"System, how many lottery draws have I accumulated?" he inquired mentally.

"The host has accumulated 18 exploration lottery draws and 1 achievement lottery draw."

Moriarty considered his options. "Draw the 18 exploration lotteries first, then the achievement lottery."

The system buzzed to life.

"Good choice. Initiating draws…"

—

Congratulations! You have obtained:

5 Daily Necessities:

1. A teacup used by Queen Victoria

2. Three quills used by Gryffindor students 500 years ago

3. A pair of enchanted chopsticks (unknown effect)

4. A 15th-century Merlin badge

5. A large color television (non-magical)

5 New Spells:

1. Cruciatus Curse (Unforgivable, causes extreme pain)

2. Obliviate (Memory-Altering Charm)

3. Locomotion Broomstick (Advanced levitation for objects)

4. Gravida Clutch (Weight manipulation spell)

5. Aegis Charm (Basic Protective Barrier)

4 New Potions:

1. Neutralizing Draught (stabilizes potion effects)

2. Buffy Brain Refreshing Elixir (Enhances mental focus temporarily)

3. Serpent's Wrath (Enables brief communication with snakes, but causes headaches)

4. Felix Felicis (Liquid Luck, limited to 1 oz.)

Other Magical Items:

1. Unlucky Hat (causes wearer to experience two hours of bad luck—suspected to be a failed lucky charm)

2. Lucky Amulet (said to bring fleeting good fortune, but effectiveness is uncertain)

3. Potion Ingredients: vampire eyeballs, werewolf claws, mermaid's scales, and a jar of basilisk venom

The drawn rewards were sent directly into the system's storage. Moriarty ignored the non-magical items and instead focused on the spells and potions.

The Cruciatus Curse was a powerful Unforgivable Curse, one of the three that carried the harshest punishments in wizarding law. He had no intention of using it recklessly, but it could be a useful ace in the hole.

The Buffy Brain Refreshing Elixir intrigued him—it could help with the mental exhaustion caused by intensive learning. Moriarty knew that his pursuit of Salazar Slytherin's knowledge would require all his focus.

He sighed. For now, the system couldn't solve this problem for him, but at least the elixir would be of use.

He then examined the last reward from the achievement lottery.

"Ding! Mission reward drawn: Felicis Enchantment Rune."

A bright flash of light filled the room, and a small golden rune floated into his mind.

The description soon followed.

Felicis Rune: A lost enchantment rune that enhances the luck of its user for a brief period. The duration and intensity depend on magical ability. A wizard skilled in runes may find ways to extend its power…

Moriarty's eyes lit up. This is basically a reusable version of Felix Felicis!

If he could merge the concept with the Neutralizing Potion and Bird-Snake Egg Yolk Shampoo, he might just have something far greater than simple hair care—perhaps a revolutionary alchemical creation beyond even Salazar Slytherin's imagination.

With a satisfied nod, he closed the system space and turned to the journey ahead.

As the clock struck eleven-thirty, Moriarty stood before the iconic brick wall between platforms nine and ten.

"This is platform nine and three-quarters," he murmured, a smirk playing on his lips.

He had always known where to find the entrance. But to the muggles passing by, it seemed as though he had disappeared into thin air.

Inside, steam from the scarlet Hogwarts Express billowed into the air, and the station bustled with excited students. First-years huddled with their parents, waving tearful goodbyes.

Witches and wizards of all ages carried heavy trunks, excitedly chattering about the coming school year.

Moriarty inhaled the thick, warm scent of the station's magic, then strolled toward the train.

As he made his way to find a compartment, he could hear the excited murmurs growing louder. The students, initially lost in their own conversations, turned their heads and started whispering.

A little first-year caught sight of Moriarty and clapped a hand over his mouth, letting out an excited squeal.

Moriarty merely smiled. His entrance to Hogwarts was bound to be legendary.

And so, his journey from Platform 9¾ began.